Switch controllers



Feb. 12, 1957 c. J. GLOWZINSKI ET AL 2,781,425

SWITCH CONTROLLERS Filed June 2, 1953 INVENTQRS 3 Chester J G/owzmsh Philip W Maurer His Attorney SWITCH CONTROLLERS Chester J. Glowzinski and Philip w. Manrer, Dearborn,

Mich, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1953, Serial No. 359,004

2 Claims. c1. zoo-4 This invention relates to controllers for electric switches used in and about automobiles, and has for an object to provide a compact assembly of switch controllers for convenient manipulation by a driver, where a relatively large number of switch controllers are grouped in a limited space on a small instrument panel.

In a modern automobile, in addition to the number of necessary controls for ignition and illumination, one also must provide controls for accessories such as special lamps, signal lights, radio, heaters, etc. By the time provision is made for a glove compartment, radio speaker, clock and the like, there is little available area of the instrument panel remaining for the convenient mounting of the controls.

The instant invention solves some of the problems by mounting some of the switches in alignment by brackets behind the instrument panel, and providing concentric controls in front of the instrument panel, each of the instruments ending in a knob or dial-plate operable independent of one another for control of the respective switch to which it is connected and all concentrically arranged so as to appear as a single control.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a me ferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a sectional view through an instrument panel, where two switches are mounted with their movable parts generally aligned with control members extending through the instrument panel so as to be available as a single point of reference.

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of a rotatable switch and indicated by the line and arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings 10 refers to a driving light switch controlled by a reciprocating rod or shaft 11 by means of a knob 13 coaxial of a sleeve 14 used in mounting a fog light switch 19 that is controlled by a driving sleeve 21 fitted with a dial plate 22. The mounting sleeve 14 is retained by a nut 23 threaded against a collar 17 disposed against the front side of the instrument panel 12.

The driving light switch 10 has a guide portion 24 with an end flange 26 providing a boss 27 through which is threaded a sleeve nut 28 after passing through a hole 29 in a bracket 18. The control rod 11 is slidable through the sleeve nut 28 and has a notched end 30 engageable in a slot 32 of contact carrier 33 reciprocable along the guide member 24. The bracket 18 comprises a pair of similarly L-shaped members 34, 35 coupled together by the screw device 36 at both ends to form a rectangular ring as shown, the interior of which is sufiicient for enclosing the fog-light switch 19. The switch 19 has a case member 37 closed by terminal plate 38 centrally apertured for passage of rod 11. Movable within the housing 37 there is a contact carrier 39 rotatably mounted by the driving sleeve 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The mounting United States Patent ice A sleeve 14 and housing 37 are rigidly secured to L-shaped bracket 35, so that when sleeve 14 is passed through an opening 40 of the instrument panel, is then surrounded by the collar 17 and tightened by the nut 23, rigidly supports the switch 19 with the movable part 39 in general alignment with the movable part 33 of the driving light switch 10. A tang 41 of the collar 17 is lodged in an aperture 42 of the instrument panel 12 which prevents rotation of the switch 19 when properly mounted. The driving sleeve 21 is rotatably supported by the mounting sleeve 14 and extends in front thereof to receive a dialplate 22 that is held in driving relation by a screw 43. The control rod 11 projects forward of the dial plate 22 and is fitted with the knob 13 by which the rod 11 may be pulled outwardly or pushed inwardly of the sleeve 21, the switch 19 and mounting screw 28, for reciprocable actuation of the contact carrier 33 in the driving light switch without any interference from the fog light switch, which in turn can be controlled by rotary motion of the dial plate and sleeve 21 without interference from the control rod 11.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A controller for controlling a plurality of circuits in an automotive vehicle comprising; a bracket defining a wall having an aperture therein adapted to be mounted behind and spaced from an aperture in an instrument panel, a rotatable switch having an aperture therein mounted on one side of said Wall, a reciprocal switch mounted on the other side of said wall, both of said switches having operative parts thereof axially aligned with both of said apertures and disposed on one side of said instrument panel, means for mounting said bracket including; a sleeve having a threaded end extending through the aperture in said panel and having the other end secured to said bracket, a collar surrounding the end of said sleeve passing through said aperture, said collar being disposed on the other side of said panel and having a projecting portion extending into a second aperture in said panel, and a nut threaded on said sleeve end for maintaining said collar and sleeve in a fixed non-rotatable position relative to said panel, a tubular driving member coaxially disposed relative to said threaded sleeve having one end operatively connected with said rotatable switch and the other end extending beyond the threaded end of said first sleeve, a second collar nonrotata'bly attached to said other end of said second sleeve for rotating parts of said rotatable switch through said second sleeve, and a control rod coaxially disposed relative to both of said sleeves and slidably carried by said second sleeve, said rod having one end operatively connected with said reciprocal switch and said other end extending through the apertures in said wall, said wall, said rotatable switch and said panel and having an end extending beyond the collared end of said second sleeve, and a control knob on said extending end of said rod for moving said reciprocal switch independently of said rotatable switch.

2. An automobile light controller for controlling a plurality of circuits in an automotive vehicle comprising in combination; a bracket means adapted to be mounted behind an opening in an instrument panel, a rotatable switch having an aperture therein mounted within said bracket, a reciprocal switch mounted outside of said panel, both of said switches having operable parts axially aligned with said opening in said panel and with an opening in said bracket, when said bracket is mounted behind said panel, a means for mounting said bracket to said panel, said means including; a sleeve having a threaded end extending through the opening in said panel and having the other end secured to a portion of said bracket, a

collar surrounding the end of said sleeve passing through said opening, said collar being disposed on the other'side of said panel and having :a projecting portion extending through a second aperture in said panel, and a nut threaded on said sleeve and for maintaining. said collar and sleeve in a fixed non-rotatable position relative to said panel, a tubular driving member coaxially disposed relative to said threaded sleeve having one end operatively connected with said rotatable switch and the other end extending beyond the threaded end of said first sleeve, a second collar non-rotatably attached to said other end of said second sleeve for rotating parts of said rotatable switch through said second sleeve, and .a control rod coaxially disposed relative to both of said sleeves and slidably carried by said second sleeve, said rod having. one end operatively connected with said reciprocal switch and said other end extending through the openings in said bracket, said rotatable switch and said panel and extending beyond the collared end of said second sleeve, and a control knob on said extending end of said rod for moving said reciprocal switch independently of said rotatable switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,291 Appleton July 21, 1903 1,211,752 Pieper et al. Ian. 9, 1917 2,341,750 Williams et al Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 474,210 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1937 

